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Here’s why Knicks could wait until offseason to trade Evan Fournier

ByJordanna Clark|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Evan Fournier #13 of the New York Knicks looks on during a break in the action during the second quarter of the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on November 02, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Evan Fournier #13 of the New York Knicks looks on during a break in the action during the second quarter of the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on November 02, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

Even before Tom Thibodeau made up his nine-man rotation, Evan Fournier had already been forced out of the rotation. The former starting shooting guard for the New York Knicks hasn’t played in a game since Nov. 13 and with the trade deadline looming in February, there seems to be a chance that Fournier could still be on the roster through the end of the year.

It isn’t that the Knicks need to keep Fournier around, but instead, it’s his contract that complicates the matter. He signed a four-year, $78 million contract ahead of the 2021-22 season, and a little over a year later, fans were reminded just how bad his contract is once it became clear that Thibodeau no longer had an excuse to continue to play him.

New York’s front office reportedly isn’t willing to attach a first-round pick to get rid of Fournier. To go off of that, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the Knicks also aren’t interested in shedding salary in a Fournier trade.

Knicks reportedly aren’t desperate to trade Evan Fournier ahead of deadline

Here’s what Windhorst had to say on his podcast:

"“The Knicks are not interested in shedding salary going forward,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on his podcast. “They’ll do business, but I think there’s been a concept that they might, like, attach a pick to get off of Evan Fournier or something like that. But to my understanding that’s not true. I think they would trade Evan Fournier—I mean he’s not playing for them right now, of course they would trade him. But I don’t think they feel any sort of desperation to clear cap space.”"

Therefore, New York may wait to trade Fournier over the offseason when he’ll be on an expiring contract. Or if the Knicks get lucky, a contender will be willing to acquire Fournier before the trade deadline as a source of shooting off the bench. That’s what he’s known for, after all.

Since being benched, Fournier’s said that he’d like to remain in New York and he hopes that he’ll get an opportunity to re-enter the lineup. But the more that time passes, the likelier it seems that he’ll remain sidelined. A lot can change between now and February, though, so stay tuned.

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